The Power of the Mind 

I have always struggled with allowing my mind to take off in drastic directions. It typically happens with I already feel insecure or uncertain about something in particular. The power of the mind is one we tend to overlook but our thoughts are the prime navigation course that dictated either our success or failure. We manifest the outcome mentally before we see it physically. This is what I am talking about….

Two weeks ago I got news that I would have to change locations at my job. I instantly went into panic mode. I wondered how I was going to work with this new population of children. Stressed about getting a new supervisor. Worked myself up so much so that I considered applying for another job. But here’s the catch…. I did all of that before even getting to the new facility. Here’s the other kicker: I did part of my internship there… with that same population… with the same supervisor. So, when I really thought about it, I was overreacting and working myself up for no reason at all. I allowed the power of my mind to overrule what I already knew to be factual. Your thoughts can produce either a positive or negative outcome. This is the equation: your thoughts affect your emotions, your emotions alter your decisions, and your decisions determine the outcome. Think about it, and apply it to a life situation that you have currently been in. How did it turn out??

Typically, overthinking is the breeding ground for negative emotions. And negative emotions are the holy grail of bad decisions; however, all roads lead back to what we allow our minds to dwell on. Changing the way you think and where you allow your thoughts to go is not an easy thing. I struggle with it on a regular basis. But there are defiantly some things that I have started doing that have helped me remember what is fact and want is fiction. 

1.    Say out loud what you are thinking when your thoughts seem to be running on a freight train – I found that when I say the ridiculous things that I concoct in my head, I realize just how irrational I am being. 

2.    Write out what your thinking – seeing it on paper allows me to truly assess what is really causing me anxiety. Look for a common theme in what you’re writing about and you will find the underlined problem that is causing you to overthink. 

3.    Talk to someone – it really helps when I have someone I can be 100% open and honest with. Someone who I am able to share all of my irrational and ridiculous thoughts with. Now the key to this is finding someone who will not aid in your delusions but help you create a clear picture. Don’t worry about how it sounds, just say it so you can get it out of your system. 

4.    Think about what you have control over and tackle it – sometimes we give so much power to insignificance instead of truly taking power over what we can control in that moment. 

5.    Use repetitive thoughts to your advantage – when you find yourself getting stuck on the negative, it is time to start reciting the positive. It may feel foreign and silly at first, but I promise you it works. Generate a list of general affirmations that remind you of what you know to be true. 

What you dwell on is what you manifest. If you really think about it, that statement is an unyielding truth. A perfect example is when you think someone dislikes you, so you manifest all these reasons why. And then you find yourself giving them the side eye or judging everything they do. Just to find out they have no problem with you at all. Be honest. We have all been them. But have you ever stopped to think that YOU manifested that whole situation by allowing your thoughts to outrun your logic? Crazy right. Well I am just here today to equip you with some tools that I use when my mind is halfway to crazy town. We aren’t’ perfect but we can work on perfecting our imperfections. One of my big imperfections is overthinking. I work every day to engage my mind with things that prompt positivity, but it is so common that some negative thoughts slip in. You are stronger than your thoughts. Allow what you know to be true be more prevalent in your life than what you conjure up. 

Signing off, 

Authentically Angie